ITF

ITFWorld // AUTUMN 2019 37 For a full breakdown of results from the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships and ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship, visit www.itftennis.com/beachtennis The energy and athleticism of beach tennis was on show in the mixed doubles finals Italy once again topped the junior podium in Moscow WHILE BOTH HAD SCOOPED THE ACCOLADE ON THREE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, ITALY'S ALESSANDRO CALBUCCI AND MICHELE CAPPELLETTI WERE CROWNED WORLD Champions for the first time as a pair on the sands of Terracina in June. With Terracina hosting the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships for the first time, Calbucci and Cappelletti dispatched Russia's Nikita Burmakin and fellow Italian Tommaso Giovannini – the world's No. 1 and No. 2- ranked players respectively – 6-3 6-0 in the men's final. In the women's final, Germany's Maraike Biglmaier and Rafaella Miiller of Brazil battled back from the brink of defeat to overcome Italians Sofia Cimatti and Giulia Gasparri 6-3 1-6 7-5. Gasparri, however, was not to be denied silverware as she and compatriot Marco Faccini were crowned mixed doubles champions after beating Italy's Ninny Valentini and Frenchman Theo Irigaray 7-5 6-2 in the final. At July's ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship in Moscow, Brazil retained the title they won 12 months earlier by sealing a 2-1 win over hosts Russia, who had defeated the world's No. 1 team Italy in the last four, in the final. South American hopes of a clean sweep were quashed in the final of the junior tournament, however, as Italy prevailed 2-0 against their Brazilian counterparts to ensure a successful defence of their title. ■ Team Brazil in jubilant mood Brazil retained their title at the ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship.

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